The Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women's Network which provides services to immigrant and refugee women in central Pennsylvania, was founded back in 2001. Up until now, when the organization needed a place to meet, the organization would meet at homes or places like the community room in the Giant Food store in Camp Hill or at the Hershey Public Library in Derry Township.

Ho-Thanh Nguyen, the founder of the Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women's Network says she has always hoped the organization would have its own place to call home and now it does. The office opened at 2101 N Front St., Governor's Plaza North 2 in Harrisburg last month.

The nonprofit provides services to the immigrant and refugee community through education, networking, and referrals. Nguyen says the organization helps immigrant women find services for anything from education to housing to medical needs, and she says in addition to serving central Pennsylvania, the organization is part of a national network.

The Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women's Network has opened a new office Harrisburg.

The opening of the new office is a result of receiving a Culturally Specific Services Program grant from the Office of Violence Against Women under the U.S. Department of Justice, according to Nguyen. The grant will allow the organization to not only open an office but, expand its services as well. The organization has added a life coaching program for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking and includes individualized, woman-to-woman support and guidance. The program also includes child care and bus passes for the women that take part in the program.

The office will also be home to the organization's other programs. The center hosts Empowerment Circles for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Empowerment Circles provides a place for women to share their experiences and learn from each other. Empowerment Circles run for approximately six to eight weeks and each session focuses on different topics.

The center also offers Story Circles from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of every month. Story Circles provide a place for immigrant women to share common experiences.